SAN ANTONIO, Texas — San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has declared a state of disaster and public health emergency in the city due to concerns about COVID-19, or coronavirus.
In the declaration, Nirenberg said on Saturday that one patient at Lackland Air Force Base who had tested positive for COVID-19 subsequently tested negative on two tests and was released from quarantine. That person then tested positive for the virus on a third test, with results coming in after her release.
The infected person then visited a local mall, ate at the food court and spent a few hours among other people, potentially exposing the public to the virus, Nirenberg said.
The person has been returned to quarantine at Lackland, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities are taking steps to ensure the community is kept safe, according to the mayor.
Nirenberg has declared that those who have been quarantined at Lackland will not be able to ingress into and travel through the City of San Antonio. Previously quarantined people will also not be allowed to enter San Antonio until further notice.
The state of disaster and public health emergency will last seven days unless continued or renewed by the San Antonio City Council.
This story was originally published by Sydney Isenberg on KXXV in Waco, Texas.
Read the full declaration below:
Emergency Order by Ivan Herrera on Scribd